Automobile-heating system



W. M. FULTON.

AUTOMOBILE HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31, 19m.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COM- PANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMOBILE-HEATIN G SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed August 31, 1916. Serial No. 117,874.

To all who-m it may concern:

lie it known that I, lVEsToN M. FULTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile-Heating Systems, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to a heating system for automobiles, and it has for an object to provide a system of this type, utilizing the exhaust gases of the engine as a source of heat which shall be simple in construction, easily installed, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation. I

further object of this invention is to provide a heating system of the type characterized with thermo-sensitive means for controlling the temperature of the heating fluid, whereby a substantially uniform heating effect may be obtained in the automobile.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system of this type with a thermosensitive control that may be adjusted to predetermine the temperature to be maintained in the automobile.

Stated broadly, the invention comprises a heating means for the automobile, preferably in the form of a radiator in the body of the automobile; means for utilizing the exhaust gases of the engine as a source of heat, preferably in the form of a heater through which the exhaust gases are passed and through which a fluid medium is passed in heat-interchanging relation with said gases; a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium through said heater and to and from the heating device in the automobile; and thermosensitive means controlling the heating capacity of said last named system prefer ably in the form of a valve regulating admission of the exhaust gases to said heater said thermosensitive means being shown as adjustable to predetermine the temperature at which said heating fluid shall be maintained.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, has been shown on the accompanying drawing; but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only,- and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

The drawing represents somewhat diagrammatically an elevation of an embodiment of the invention, certain parts being shown in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 represents the usual conduit for conducting the exhaust gases from the engine to any usual form of muflier, diagrammatically indicated at 2. In the form shown, a by-pass is provided for the exhaust gases as by the insertion of a Y-coupling 3 in said conduit 1. From said Y-coupling 3 extends a pipe 4 communicating through elbow 5 with conduit 6 leading into a heater, generally indicated at 7. This heater may be of any suitable construction, the embodiment illustrated comprising a casing 8 communicating with the conduit 6 at one end and communicating at its other end with the exhaust conduit 1 through conduit 9, elbow 10, pipe 11, and Y-coupling 12 inserted in said conduit 1. Surrounding the aforesaid casing 8 is a second casing 13 through which the heating fluid is passed. Said casing 8 is shown as intersected by a plurality of pipes 14 whereby the heating fluid may circulate through said pipes, as well as around the exterior of the casing 8. Leading from the casing 13 is a conduit 14.- for conducting the heating fluid to one or more heating devices of any suitable construction in the automobile, two such heating devices in the form of radiators 15 being illustrated as positioned under the seats of the automobile. It is to be expressly understood, however, that any desired number or kind of heating device may be employed, and they may be positioned wherever desired, the location under the.

seats being convenient but not essential to this invention. From the heating device or devices 15 the heating fluid is returned to the heater 7 through conduit or conduits 16.

In accordance with the present invention, thermosensitive means are provided for controlling the heating capacity of the sysing through the system. In the embodiment illustrated, a second bypass is provided between the inlet for the exhaust gases to the heater and the main exhaust conduit 1, as by the use of a T-coupling 17 in the conduit 6, a second T-coupling 18 in the conduit 1, and a connecting pipe 19. Valve means are provided for cont-rolling the flow of the exhaust gases through the heater and the pipe 19. While any suitable form of valve means may be employed, the embodiment illustrated comprises a butter-fly valve 20 pivoted within the T-coupling 17, and of such construction and mounting that at one extremity of its range of movement it entirely closes admission to the pipe 19, while at the other extremity of its range of movement it entirely closes admission to the casing 8 of the heater 7. Said valve 20 is shown as provided with an operating crank-arm 21 connected by link 22 with a lever 23 pivoted on the casing of a thermosensitive means 24 extending into heat-interchanging relation with the heating fluid. In the form shown the casing 13 is provided with an extension 25 for receiving the thermosensitive means While any suitable form of thermosensitive means may be employed, the illustrated embodiment comprises a thermostat of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,153,214, granted September 14, 1915.

Means are also preferably provided to predetermine the minimum temperature at which the thermosensitive means assumes control of the valve 20. In the form shown, a coil spring 27 is connected at one end to the lever 23 and at its opposite end to a block 26 received upon the threaded end of an ad usting screw 28, which is mounted in a bracket 29 desirably constituted by an extension of the casing 13. Block 26 maybe provided with a pointer 30 for cooperation with a scale 31 mounted in any convenient manner.

For controlling the admission of the exhaust gases to the by-pass leading through the heater, a valve 32 may be mounted in the -coupl1ng 3 and provided with a manually operable member 33. This valve at one extremity of its range of movement closes the mam exhaust conduit 1, and at the other extrem ty of its range of movement closes admlsslon to the pipe 4 of the aforesaid bypass.

An expansionchamber is preferably connected into the system through which the heatlng fluid circulates. While any one of a variety of forms of expansion chamber may be employed, the preferred embodiment comprises an expansible and collapsible corrugated Vessel 34 communicating with any suitable part of said system, as with the conduit 14, by a pipe 35, and having its movable end wall engaged by a coil spring 36. The opposite end of said spring is en gaged by an adjusting screw 37 in screwthreaded engagement with a frame 33, shown as surrounding the vessel and spring and supported on the pipe 35.

When it is desired to utilize the exhaust gases of the engine as a heating medium, valve 32 is moved to the position shown on the drawing, closing the main exhaust conduit 1 and diverting the exhaust gases through the by-pass constituted by pipe 4;, conduit 6, casing 8, conduit 9, and pipe 11, from which the gases return to the conduit 1. In their course through the casing 8, they entirely surround the pipes 14 and give up their heat to the heating fluid passlng through these pipes, and also give up heat through the walls of the casing 8 to the fluid surrounding this casing. The fluid in the casing 13 becoming heated, a circulation is set up through the system comprising the conduit 14, radiators 15, and conduit 16. With the rise of temperature of the heating fluid the thermosensitive means tends to operate lever 23. Until this tendency is sufficiently great to overcome the opposition of spring 26, lever 23 does not respond to this tendency of the thermosensitive means. \Vhen the initial temperature at which the thermosensitive means is to assume control of the valve 20 has been reached, lever 23 will operate valve 20 through link 22 and crank-arm 21 to admit the exhaust gases to the pipe 19, proportionately decreasing admission of the exhaust gases to the heater 7. A continued rise in temperature of the heating fluid will eventually cause the valve 20 to assume the dotted line position shown on the drawing, closing admission of the gases to the heater and entirely diverting them through the secondary by-pass comprising the pipe 19. The thermostat will normally maintain the valve 20 in a position to so proportion the flow of exhaust gases through the heater 7 and the pipe 19 as to maintain the heating fluid in the system at a substantially uniform temperature as predetermined by the adjustment of the spring 27. As the fluid in the system expands on rise of temperature, the expansible and collapsible vessel 34 expands against the adjustable tension of the spring 36.

While the illustrated embodiment has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the form shown on the drawing, as other mechanical expressions will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while certain features thereof are capable of use without other features thereof. The limits of the invention are to be determined by reference to the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is 1. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium through which the exhaust gases of the engine are passed, a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from-said radiator and through said heater in heatinterchanging relation with said exhaust gases, and thermosensitive means for regulating the flow of exhaust gases through said heater.

2. A heating system for autombiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium through which the exhaust gases of the engine are passed, a system in cluding said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from said radiator and through said heater in heatlnterchanging relation with said. exhaust gases, and means controlled by the temperature of said fluid medium for regulating the flow of exhaust gases through said heater.

3. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium through which the exhaust gases of the engine are passed, a system in cluding said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from said radiator and through said heater in heatinterchanging relation with said exhaust gases, means controlling the heatin capacity of said last-named system, and t ermosensitive means controlling said last-named means.

4. A heating system for automobiles com prising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, means for conducting a heating fluid to and from said radiator, a heater for said fluid through which the exhaust gases of the engine are passed, means controlling the heating capacity of said last-named system, and means controlled by the temperature of said fluid for controlling said last-named means.

5. A heating system for automobiles com prising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a by-pass for the exhaust gases, a fluid-heater in said by -pass, means for conducting the heated fluid to and from said heater through a heating device in the automobile, and thermosensitive means for controlling the flow of exhaust gases through said by-pass. "6. A heating system for automobiles comprising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a by-pass for the exhaust gases, a fluid-heater in said Jay-pass, means for conducting the heated fluid to and from said heater through a heating device in the automobile, and means controlled by the temperature of said fluid for controlling the flow of exhaust gases through said by-pass.

i 7 In a heating system for automobiles,in

combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, aby-pass for said gases, a fluid-heater in said by-pass, a radiator in the body of the car, means for conducting the heated fluid to and from said radiator and heater, a valve controlling the flow of exhaust gases through said heater, and thermosensitive means controlling said valve.

8. In a heating system for automobiles, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a by-pass for said gases, a fluid-heater in said by-pass, a radiator in the body of the car, means for conducting the heated fluid to and from said radiator and heater, a valve controlling the flow of exhaust gases through said heater, and means controlled by the temperature or said fluid for controlling said valve.

9. A heating system for automobiles comprising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a by-pass for the exhaust gases, a fluid-heater in said by-pass, a second by-pass between the inlet of said heater and said exhaust conduit, and

valve means regulating the admission of exhaust gases to said heater and second byass.

10. A heating system for automobiles comprising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a bypass for the exhaust gases, a fluid-heater in said by-pass, a second by-pass between the inlet of said heater and said exhaust conduit, valve means regulating the admission of exhaust gases to said heater and second by-pass, and thermosensitive means controllin said valve means. 7

11. heating system for automobiles comprising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a bypass for the exhaust gases, a. fluid-heater in said by-pass, a second by-pass between the inlet of said heater and said exhaust conduit, valve means regulating the admission of exhaust gases to said heater and second by-pass, and means controlled by the temperature of the heated fluid for controlling said valve means.

12'. A heating system for automobiles comprising, in combination with the conduit for the exhaust gases of the engine, a by-pass for the exhaust gases, at fluid-heater in said by-pass, a second by-pass between the inlet of said heater and said exhaust conduit, valve means regulating the admission of exhaust gases to said heater and second by-pass, and a valve controlling said first-named by-pass.

13. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium and through which the exhaust gases of the engine are conducted, a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from said radiator and through said heater in heat-interchanging relation with said exhaust gases, a valve controlling admission of said gases to said heater, thermosensitive means controlling said valve, and means to predetermine the temperature at which said thermoseusitive means operates said valve.

let. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium, a by-pass including said heater and through which the exhaust gases of the engine are conducted, a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid member to and from said radiator and through said heater in heat-interchanging relation with said exhaust gases, a valve controlling admission of said gases to said heater thermosensitive means controling said valve, and an adjustable spring opposing actuation of said valve by said thermosensitive means.

15. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium and through which the exhaust gases of the engine are conducted, a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from said radiator and through said heater in heat-interchanging relation with said exhaustgases, thermosensitive means for controlling the heating capacity of said lastnamed system, and an expansion chamber communicating with said last-named system and comprising an expansible and collapsible corrugated vessel.

16. A heating system for automobiles comprising a radiator constituting a heating means for the automobile, a heater for a fluid medium, a by-pass including said heater and through which the exhaust gases of the engine are conducted, a system including said radiator and heater for circulating said fluid medium to and from said radiator and through said heater in heatinterchanging relation with said exhaust gases, thermosensitive means for controlling the heating capacity of said last-named system, an expansion chamber communicating with said last-named system and comprising an expansible and collapsible corrugated vessel, having a movable end Wall, and an adustable spring opposing movement of said end wall.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WESTON M. FULTON. 

